Harry Carney Centennial Celebration (5/5)

Harry Carney – Centennial Celebration
Boston, Massachusets, April 1, 1910 – New York, October 14, 1974

For the fifth and final volume, we mostly stay with Johnny Hodges, starting out with some cuts from a session featuring Ray Nance, Jimmy Hamilton, Lawrence Brown, Billy Strayhorn, and the mid-50s ducal rhythm section of Jimmy Woode and Sam Woodyard. Then we go on with Hodges, Hamilton and the rhythm section but get Clark Terry, Quentin "Butter" Jackson and Ray Nance added for another pair of tunes. To end this off, there are Carney's features from a 1961 concert by a Johnny Hodges touring unit, again with Lawrence Brown and Ray Nance in the band.
In between, we get a short but sweet and intriguing rarity: an audio recording (how great would it be to have this on video!) by an Ellington all star formation including Hodges, Carney, Oscar Pettiford and... Max Roach! Yes indeed!

Happy listening - hope you'll enjoy the great music in this little series!

Harry Carney lives!

Harry Carney Centennial Celebration (4/5)

Harry Carney – Centennial Celebration
Boston, Massachusets, April 1, 1910 – New York, October 14, 1974

Volume four of the series goes into Johnny Hodges territory, and for the largest part, we're going to stay with Rabbit's band up to the end! The two partial dates included here are from when Hodges took time off the Ellington band to lead his own band, in the early fifties (he would be back by 1956). You hear one of the underrated Ellington trumpet greats, Harold "Shorty" Baker, on the first date, Clark Terry on the second, while Jimmy Hamilton and Lawrence Brown are on both. Call Cobbs (later with Albert Ayler) and a young Coltrane (not heard in solo) are on the first, as is early 50s Ellington drummer Louie Bellson, whom we heard on volume three of this compilation. On the second date, we get to hear the great Sonny Greer - one of the most important sidemen of Ellington's long career - as well as Ellington alter ego Billy Strayhorn on piano.

Harry Carney Centennial Celebration (3/5)

Harry Carney – Centennial Celebration
Boston, Massachusets, April 1, 1910 – New York, October 14, 1974

The third volume takes the story a step further, including just two sessions: the entire Capitol date by Louie Bellson, featuring an intriguing mix of swing and modern musicians including Clark Terry, Juan Tizol, John Graas, Willie Smith, Wardell Gray, Wendell Marshall, and Billy Strayhorn, and then the full glorious "Harry Carney with Strings" album done in 1954 for Norman Granz' Clef label.
Programmed out of sequence, but I thought it fits in here better, you'll get the two Ellington sides from Granz' "The Jazz Scene" album - both featuring Harry Carney, backed by an orchestra, and of course he plays magnificently!

Harry Carney Centennial Celebration (2/5)

Harry Carney – Centennial Celebration
Boston, Massachusets, April 1, 1910 – New York, October 14, 1974

The second volume continues the great small group sessions from the 1940s, including Carney's own H.R.S. session. He composed "Chili Con Carney" for Sandy Williams' session for the same label, and he was featured on a magnificient "Why Was I Born" on the Wax session with Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Jones, Lawrence Brown and Billy Strayhorn.

Harry Carney Centennial Celebration (1/5)

Harry Carney, the great anchor of many a fine Ellington sax section, would have been 100 years old today, April 1, 2010.

Carney was born in Boston, MA, on April 1, 1910. As a teenager, he started playing with Duke Ellington's orchestra in 1927 and participating in a first recording session on October 6 of that year. Carney started out playing alto sax and clarinet with Duke. The clarinet would stay in his bag for all those years, he did section work here and there and did his patented solo on "Rockin' in Rhythm" on the licorice stick as well. He later also added the bass clarinet to his roster.

Carney was one of the most important and longest standing members in Ellington's band - other than Johnny Hodges, Cootie Williams, and other important Ellingtonians, he never left the orchestra and played with Duke up to his death in New York, on October 8, 1974 (the Duke himself had died the same year, on May 24).

Nowadays, with a bunch of well-known modern baritone sax players, Carney is unjustly forgotten, yet he may well still be the greatest baritone sax player in jazz. He was firmly based on Coleman Hawkins' innovations on the tenor sax, playing with a robust, huge sound. Carney was also a terrific balladeer.

This is the first of a five-part compilation of Carney's music, the other four will be posted in the next few days. The aim is to present Carney mostly in sideman appearances of various small groups, including the few sessions he led on his own. Ellington is mostly absent here, but of course a lot of the music is very Ellingtonian in mood, and many of the sidemen were Ellingtonians, including Johnny Hodges (who will be featured heavily on later volumes), Billy Strayhorn, Louis Bellson, Lawrence Brown, Cootie Williams, Jimmy Hamilton, Otto Hardwick, or Rex Stewart, but you'll also hear Coleman Hawkins, Benny Goodman, Jimmy Jones, Joe Thomas, Shelly Manne, Sandy Williams, Wardell Gray, Willie Smith, John Graas, Don Byas, Johnny Guarnieri, Charlie Ventura, Lester Young, and many others.
And of course you'll hear "Harry Carney with Strings", and his two features from Norman Granz' "The Jazz Scene", as well as a short Ellington rarity: a recording with Max Roach on the drums!

Hope you will enjoy, and hope many will (re-)discover what a terrific musician Harry Carney was!

Django Reinhardt All Star Sessions (1935-38)

Here's a little compilation - the best of Reinhardt's dates with American guests, featuring him with luminaries such as Coleman Hawkins, Benny Carter, Dicky Wells, and Bill Coleman, and with some of the pre-eminent French jazzmen of the day like Alix Combelle and André Ekyan. Stéphane Grappelli, Django's Hot Club partner, is on piano on some of these sessions.

: . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . :. : . : . : . :

Django Reinhardt & His American Friends
A Selection of All Star Sessions, 1935-38

Django Reinhardt (g)

with:

#1-4: Coleman Hawkins & Michel Warlop Orchestra:
Arthur Briggs, Noël Chiboust, Pierre Allier (t), Guy Paquinet (tb), André Ekyan, Charles Lisée (as,cl), Alix Combelle (ts,cl), Coleman Hawkins (ts), Stéphane Grappelli (p), Eugène d'Hellemmens (b), Maurice Chaillou (d)
Paris, March 2, 1935

#5-8: Coleman Hawkins & His All-Star "Jam" Band:
Benny Carter (as,t), André Ekyan (as), Coleman Hawkins (ts), Alix Combelle (ts,cl), Stéphane Grappelli (p), Eugène d'Hellemmens (b), Tommy Benford (d)
Paris, April 28, 1937

#9-11: Benny Carter & His Orchestra:
Benny Carter (as,t,arr), Fletcher Allan (as), Alix Combelle (ts), Bertie King (ts,cl), York de Souza (p), Len Harrison (b), Robert Montmarché (d)
Paris, March 7, 1938

#12-17: Dicky Wells & His Orchestra:
Bill Dillard, Bill Coleman, Shad Collins (t), Dicky Wells (tb), Richard Fullbright (b), Bill Beason (d)
note: omit Dillard and Collins on #15-17
Paris, July 7, 1938

CD rip @ 320 kbs

Chonk, Charlie, Chonk! - king ubu presents Charlie Christian (For Europeans Only #12)

I have recently played some music by Charlie Christian again and figured why not share some of it here. My selection is neither a greatest hits nor an elaborate selection of rarities, rather just some great things (like the studio session with Lester Young and Count Basie), jams (including the famous studio jam of the Goodman band waiting for Benny to appear, as well as a lenghty jam from one of John Hammond's second "From Spirituals to Swing" concert), an encounter with Fred Astaire, and live recordings with Jerry Jerome (all of them!) and the Benny Goodman sextet.

The complete info is listed below - I did not break the music into CD chunks, as I have all of it on various CDs and will not burn this to CD myself, rather just copied it all onto my ubupod.

I hope you like the selection, and I hope you can ignore the occasional sonic problem in the live recordings. The infectuous groove Christian sets, in solo as well as in his forceful comping, is something you just have to dig, no matter about sound quality!



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some useful links:
http://home.elp.rr.com/valdes/
http://www.classicjazzguitar.com/artists/artists_page.jsp?artist=9
http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/hansen/Charlie/ccsolos.htm

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“Chonk, Charlie, Chonk!”
king ubu presents selected sides featuring CHARLIE CHRISTIAN


CHARLIE CHRISTIAN, guitar

with:


JERRY JEROME QUARTET
Harlem Breakfast Club, Minneapolis, Minn, September 23, 1939
Jerry Jerome, tenor saxophone; Frankie Hines, piano;
Charlie Christian, guitar; unknown, bass; unknown, drums
Note: poss. Oscar Pettiford on bass (rather not)

1. I GOT RHYTHM (G. Gershiwn-I. Gershwin) 5:59
2. STARDUST (H. Carmichael-M. Parrish) 5:42
3. TEA FOR TWO (V. Youmans-I. Caesar) 4:37
4. I GOT RHYTHM (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin) 3:37
5. I GOT RHYTHM (G. Gerhswin-I. Gershwin) 3:38
6. TEA FOR TWO (V. Youmans-I. Caesar) 5:00


BENNY GOODMAN SEXTET
ASCAP’s 25th Anniversary Program
Carnegie Hall, New York, October 6, 1939
Benny Goodman, clarinet, leader; Lionel Hampton, vibes;
Fletcher Henderson, piano; Artie Bernstein, bass; Nick Fatool, drums

7. FLYING HOME (L. Hampton-B. Goodman-E. DeLange) 3:53
8. STARDUST (H. Carmichael-M. Parrish) 2:32

“Camel Caravan” Program, NBC Radio Network
Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York, October 7, 1939

9. MEMORIES OF YOU (E. Blake-A. Razaf) 3:14

“Columbia Records Present: Young Man With A Band”, Mutual Radio Network
Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York, October 9, 1939

10. ROSE ROOM (IN SUNNY ROSELAND) (A. Hickman-H. Williams) 3:02

“Camel Caravan” Program, NBC Radio Network
Radio City Studios, New York, October 14, 1939

11. AC-DC Current (C. Christian-L. Hampton-B. Goodman) 2:25

Sustaining Broadcast, Mutual Radio Network
Waldorf Astoria Hote, New York, October 16, 1939

12. FLYING HOME (L. Hampton-B. Goodman-E. DeLange) 3:10

“Camel Caravan” Program, NBC Radio Network
New York, October 28, 1939

13. ROSE ROOM (A. Hickman-H. Williams) 3:37

“Camel Caravan” Program, NBC Radio Network
New York, November 18, 1939

14. SOUTH OF THE BORDER (M. Carr-J. Kennedy) 3:32

BENNY GOODMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA
New York, November 22, 1939
Benny Goodman, clarinet, leader;
Ziggy Elman, Jimmy Maxwell, Johnny Martel, trumpets;
Red Ballard, Vernon Brown, Ted Vesely, trombones;
Toots Mondello, Buff Estes, alto saxophones;
Bus Bassey, Jerry Jerome, tenor saxophones;
Fletcher Henderson, piano, arranger; Arnold Covey, guitar;
Artie Bernstein, bass; Nick Fatool, drums

15. HONEYSUCKLE ROSE (A. Razaf-T. “Fats” Waller) 3:03


JAM SESSION
Second of John Hammond’s “From Spirituals To Swing”
Carnegie Hall, New York, December 24, 1939
Buck Clayton, Shad Collins, Harry Edison, Ed Lewis, trumpets;
Dicky Wells, Benny Morton, Dan Minor, trombones;
Earle Warren, alto saxophone;
Lester Young, Buddy Tate, tenor saxophones;
Jack Washington, baritone saxophone;
Count Basie, Pete Johnson, Joe Sullivan, piano;
Freddie Green, guitar; Walter Page, Artie Bernstein, bass;
Jo Jones, Nick Fatool, drums

16. OH, LADY BE GOOD (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin) 10:40
(solo order: Basie, Young, Sullivan, Christian, Edison, Johnson, Page, Christian)


JAM SESSION (Waitin’ for Benny)
New York, March 23, 1940
Cootie Williams, trumpet; George Auld, tenor sax;
Johnny Guarnieri, piano; Artie Bernstein, bass; Dave Tough, drums

17. JAM SESSION (21:02)
a) RIFFIN’ AROUND (unknown) 3:31
b) WAITIN’ FOR BENNY (A SMO-O-O-OTH ONE) (B. Goodman) 3:37
c) I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT YOU’RE IN LOVE WITH ME (C. Gaskill-J. McHugh) 6:20
d) ROSE ROOM (A. Hickman-H. Williams) 4:01
e) I HADN’T ANYONE TILL YOU (R. Noble) 1:59
f) BLUES IN B (J. Guarnieri-C. Christian) 1:34


FRED ASTAIRE with BENNY GOODMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA AND SEXTET
Columbia Recording Session
Los Angeles, Cal, April 30, 1940
Fred Astaire, vocals, tap dance; Benny Goodman, clarinet, leader;
Jimmy Maxwell, Ziggy Elman, Irving Goodman, trumpets;
Red Ballard, Vernon Brown, Ted Vesely, trombone;
Toots Mondello, Les Robinson, alto saxophones;
Bus Bassey, Jerry Jerome, tenor saxophones;
Johnny Guarnieri, piano; Artie Bernstein, bass; Nick Fatool, drums

18. JUST LIKE TAKING CANDY FROM A BABY (F. Astaire) 2:49
(solo order: Goodman, Astaire, Goodman, Hampton, Goodman, Astaire, Goodman, Mondello)

same session, but: BENNY GOODMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA
omit Astaire, add Helen Forrest, vocals; Les Hite, arranger

19. LI’L BOY LOVE (F. Loesser-F. Hollaender) 3:01


BENNY GOODMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA
Los Angeles, June 25, 1940
Benny Goodman, clarinet, leader;
Jimmy Maxwell, Ziggy Elman, Irving Goodman, trumpets;
Red Ballard, Vernon Brown, Ted Vesely, trombones;
Toots Mondello, Les Robinson, alto saxophones;
Bus Bassey, Jerry Jerome, tenor saxophones;
Johnny Guarnieri, piano; Artie Bernstein, bass; Dave Tough, drums
Eddie Sauter, arranger

20. LI’L BOY LOVE (F. Loesser-F. Hollaender) 3:00


BENNY GOODMAN SEXTET
New York, October 28, 1940
Buck Clayton, trumpet; Benny Goodman, clarinet (except on #1);
Lester Young, tenor saxophone; Count Basie, piano;
Walter Page, bass; Jo Jones, drums

21. AD LIB BLUWS (Improvisation) 3:23
22. WHOLLY CATS (B. Goodman) 3:16
23. CHARLIE’S DREAM (C. Basie-L. Young) 3:15
24. I NEVER KNEW (T. Fiorito-G. Kahn) 3:00
25. LESTER’S DREAM (C. Basie-L. Young) 3:17


BENNY GOODMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA
New York, March 4, 1941
Benny Goodman, clarinet, leader;
Alec Fila, Jimmy Maxwell, Cootie Williams, Irving Goodman, trumpets;
Lou McGarity, Cutty Cutshall, trombones;
Skippy Martin, Gus Bivona, alto saxophones;
George Auld, Pete Mondello, tenor saxophones;
Johnny Guarnieri, piano; Artie Bernstein, bass; Dave Tough, drums
Jimmy Mundy, arranger

26. SOLO FLIGHT (C. Christian-J. Mundy-B. Goodman) 2:48


JAM SESSION
Minton’s Playhouse, New York, May 8, 1941
Oran “Hot Lips” Page, Joe Guy, trumpets;
Rudy Williams, alto saxophone;
Don Byas, Kermit Scott, tenor saxophones;
"Tex", piano; Nick Fenton, bass; Kenny Clarke, drums

27. STOMPIN’ AT THE SAVOY (E. Sampson-C. Webb-B. Goodman-A. Razaf) 10:21
(solo order: Guy, Scott, Page, Christian, Guy, Williams, Guy, Byas, Page, Guy)


BENNY GOODMAN SEXTET
“Monte Proser Dance Carnival”, Mutual Radio Network
Madison Square Garden, New York, June 1941
prob. Benny Goodman, clarinet, leader; Cootie Williams, trumpet;
Georgie Auld, tenor saxophone; Johnny Guarnieri, piano;
Walter Iooss, bass; Nick Fatool, drums
Note: this might be Christian's last known recording

28. STOMPIN’ AT THE SAVOY (E. Sampson-C. Webb-B. Goodman-A. Razaf) 1:45 [inc]

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Part 1 / Part 2

Dinah Washington - The Best in Blues (For Europeans Only #12)

Here's a great supplement to the Mercury 1940s session - the Verve Elite CD of Dinah Washington's album "The Best in Blues", which compiles a Keystone Session with various Mercury sessions - stylistically, it fits very well with the "Blues, Boogie, & Bop" box!
Sidemen include Arnett Cobb, Paul Quinichette and Ben Webster on tenor, Wynton Kelly on piano, Jimmy Cobb on drums, and of course the great Lionel Hampton!



Dinah Washington - The Best in Blues

1. Evil Gal Blues
2. I Know How to Do It
3. Baby Get Lost
4. Trouble in Mind
5. Fat Daddy
6. TV Is the Thing This Year
7. Salty Papa Blues
8. New Blowtop Blues
9. Gambler's Blues
10. Don't Hold It Against Me
11. Long John Blues
12. Homeward Bound
13. TV Is the Thing This Year [Alternate Take]
14. Baby Get Lost [Alternate Take]
15. Good Daddy Blues
16. Good Daddy Blues [Previously Unissued Alternative Take]
17. Drummer Man
18. Drummer Man
19. Be Fair to Me

bonus tracks - Lionel Hampton w/Dinah Washington:
20. Evil Gal Blues
21. Blow Top Blues
[taken from: "Lionel Hampton: Hamp - The Legendary Decca Recordings" (CD1)]

Discography

#1,2,7,12
Joe Morris (t), Rudy Rutherford (cl), Arnett Cobb (ts), Milt Buckner (p - out 12), Vernon King (b), Fred Radcliffe (d-out 2), Lionel Hampton (vib,d-2,p-12)
WOR Studios, NYC, December 29, 1943 [Keynote]

#3,14,15,16,17,18
Teddy Stewart's Orchestra: Georoge Hudson (t), Rupert Cole, Ernie Wilkins (as), Cecil Payne (bari), James Forman (Hen Gates) (p), Freddie Green (g), Ray Brown (b), Teddy Stewart (d)
NYC, March 4, 1949 [Mercury]

#4
Jimmy Cobb's Orchestra, incl. Ben Webster, Wardell Gray (ts), Wynton Kelly (p), Keter Betts (b), Jimmy Cobb (d)
Los Angeles, January 18, 1952 [Mercury]

#5,6,13
Paul Qunichette (ts), unknown (p), Jackie Davis (org), Keter Betts (b), Jimmy Cobb (d), Candido Camero (cga)
Fine Sound, NYC, June 10, 1953 [Mercury]

#8
Nook Shrier's Orchestra, incl. Paul Quinichette (ts), Wynton Kelly (p), prob. Freddie Green (g), poss. Keter Betts (b), Gus Johnson (d)
NYC, September 24, 1951 [Mercury]

#9
Jimmy Cobb's Orchestra, incl. Clark Terry (t), Russell Procope (cl,as), Paul Gonsalves (ts), Beryl Booker (p), unknown (g), Keter Betts (b), Jimmy Cobb (d)
Universal Recording Studios, Chicago, June 3, 1952 [Mercury]

#10,19
Ike Carpenter's Orchestra: Clyde Raesinger, Tony Reeves (t), Art Pearlman, Roger White (tb), Ed Freeman (as), Bob Hardaway, Bob Robinson (ts), Joe Koch (bari), Wynton Kelly (p), Chuck Norris (g), Joe O'Rear (b), Dick Stanton (d)
Los Angeles, June 1, 1951 [Mercury]

#11
unknown personnel
Chicago, July 1, 1948 [Mercury]

#20
Joe Morris, Lamar Wright Jr., Dave Page, Wendell Culley, Al Killian (t), AL Heyes, Andrew Penn, Abdul Hamid, John Morris (tb), Herbie Fields (cl,ss,as), Gus Evans (as), Arnett Cobb, Jay Peters (ts), Lionel Hampton (vib), Milt Buckner (p), Billy Mackel (g), Charles Harris, Ted Sinclair (b), Fred Radcliffe (d)
Carnegie Hall, NYC, April 15, 1945

#21
Wendell Culley (t), Herbie Fieds (as), Arnett Cobb (ts), Lionel Hampton (vib), Johnny Mehegan (p), Billy Mackel (g), Charles Harris (b), George Jones (d)
NYC, May 21, 1945

Everything as usual:
CD rip @ 320 kbs (lame)
link in the comments
no scans but accurate tags including full personnel and recording info as listed above & more

Blues, Boogie, & Bop: The 1940s Mercury Sessions (For Europeans Only #11)

Here's the last upload of the old year, and a very special one it is! This 7CD box set has been OOP for many years. It was a limited edition of 10'000 and contains the Mercury 1940s output of musicians like Albert Ammons (including a great father & son date with Gene Ammons on tenor), Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Jay McShann, Roy Byrd (Professor Longhair), Helen Humes, Buddy Rich's Big Band, Cootie Williams (including some Willis "Gator" Jackson), and others. There are six discs full of music, plus a seventh with alternates and a very rare, previously unreleased date by Mary Lou Williams (two tunes).

As usual, this comes in MP3 @ 320 kbs - don't ask for FLAC, I couldn't handle it that way. The links will be in the comments, as usual.

Now all that remains is to wish you and your beloved ones a happy new year!
And if you enjoy my blog and the music I share, why don't you now and then say so!



Here's the setlist, all other info, including full line-ups and recording locations/dates, is in the tags (I hope I didn't make too many typos, took me hours to get it done!)

Disc 1
1. Bedroom Blues - Sippie Wallace
2. Buzz Me - Sippie Wallace
3. Doin' The Boogie Woogie - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
4. Oh, Lady, Be Good! - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
5. Suitcase Blues - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
6. Boogie Woogie At The Civic Opera - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
7. Boogie Woogie At The Civic Opera - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
8. Swanee River Boogie - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
9. Why I'm Leaving You - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
10. I Don't Want To See You - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
11. Red Sails In The Sunset - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
12. Kilroy Boogie - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
13. Deep In The Heart Of Texas Boogie - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
14. Sweet Patooty Boogie - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
15. 12th Street Rag - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
16. 12th Street Rag - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
17. St. Louis Blues - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
18. Shufflin' The Boogie - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
19. Shufflin' The Boogie - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
20. S. P. Blues - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
21. Hiroshima - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
22. Roses Of Picardy - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
23. The Sheik Of Araby - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
24. You Are My Sunshine - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
25. In A Little Spanish Town ('Twas A Night Like This) - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
26. Margie - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings

Disc 2
1. Tuxedo Boogie - Albert Ammons and His Rhythm Kings
2. Mr. Bell Boogie - Albert Ammons and His Rhythm Kings
3. Bear Den Boogie - Albert Ammons and His Rhythm Kings
4. Rhythm Boogie - Albert Ammons and His Rhythm Kings
5. Ammons Stomp - Albert Ammons and His Rhythm Kings
6. Baltimore Breakdown - Albert Ammons and His Rhythm Kings
7. When You And I Were Young, Maggie - Albert Ammons and His Rhythm Kings
8. The Clipper - Albert Ammons and His Rhythm Kings
9. Jet Propelled Papa - Helen Humes With Buck Clayton's Orchestra
10. Blue And Sentimental - Helen Humes With Buck Clayton's Orchestra
11. I Just Refuse To Sing The Blues - Helen Humes With Buck Clayton's Orchestra
12. They Raided The Joint - Helen Humes With Buck Clayton's Orchestra
13. Mad About You - Helen Humes With Buck Clayton's Orchestra
14. Helen Humes With Buck Clayton's Orchestra / Jumpin' On Sugar Hill - Helen Humes With Buck Clayton's Orchestra
15. Helen Humes With Buck Clayton's Orchestra / Flippity Flop Flop - Helen Humes With Buck Clayton's Orchestra
16. Today I Sing The Blues - Helen Humes With Buck Clayton's Orchestra
17. Time Out For Tears - Helen Humes With Unknown Orchestra
18. Married Man Blues - Helen Humes With Unknown Orchestra
19. Somebody Loves Me - Helen Humes With Unknown Orchestra
20. Don't Fall In Love With Me - Helen Humes With Unknown Orchestra
21. I've Got The Strangest Feeling - Helen Humes And The Contrastors
22. Free - Helen Humes And The Contrastors

Disc 3
1. Hootie Boogie - Jay McShann And The Boogie Woogie Trio
2. Garfield Avenue Blues - Jay McShann And The Boogie Woogie Trio
3. Crown Prince Boogie - Jay McShann And The Boogie Woogie Trio
4. Shipyard Woman Blues - Jay McShann And The Sextet
5. Ernestine - Jay McShann And The Sextet
6. Bucktown Boogie - Jay McShann And The Sextet
7. Roll On, Katy - Jay McShann And The Sextet
8. Voodoo Woman Blues - Jay McShann And The Sextet
9. I Want A Little Girl - Jay McShann And The Sextet
10. Jimtown Boogie - Jay McShann And The Sextet
11. Have You Ever Loved A Woman - Jay McShann And The Sextet
12. Gone With The Blues - Jay McShann And The Sextet
13. Barfly Blues - Jay McShann & His Orchestra
14. Please Stop Playing Those Blues, Boy - Jay McShann & His Orchestra
15. All My Geets Are Gone - Jay McShann & His Orchestra
16. Strange Woman Blues - Jay McShann & His Orchestra
17. W. B. Blues - Walter Brown with Jay McShann Trio
18. Sloppy Drunk - Walter Brown with Jay McShann Trio
19. Lovin' A Beggar - Walter Brown with Jay McShann Trio
20. Just Thinkin' - Walter Brown with Jay McShann Trio
21. You Didn't Tell Me - Jay McShann & His Orchestra
22. Got You Beggin' - Jay McShann & His Orchestra
23. Duke And The Brute - Jay McShann & His Orchestra
24. Reach - Jay McShann & His Orchestra

Disc 4
1. Cherry Red Blues - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
2. Somebody's Gotta Go - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
3. Too Many Women Blues - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
4. Just A Dream - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
5. Mr. Cleanhead Steps Out - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
6. It's A Groovy Affair - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
7. I've Been So Good - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
8. Juice Head Baby - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
9. Cleanhead Blues - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
10. When A Woman Loves Her Juice - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
11. Kidney Stew Blues - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
12. King For A Day Blues - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
13. Old Maid Boogie - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
14. Lazy Gal - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
15. Bonus Pay - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
16. Luxury Tax Blues - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
17. Railroad Porter's Blues - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
18. Gonna Send You Back Where I Got You From - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
19. When I Get Drunk - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
20. Oil Man Blues - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
21. Ever-Ready Blues - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
22. Wrong Girl Blues - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
23. Wandering Mind Blues - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
24. Have You Ever Missed Your Baby? - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra

Disc 5
1. Some Women Do - Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
2. Alimony Blues - Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
3. High Class Baby - Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
4. I Took The Front Door In - Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
5. Friday Fish Fry - Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
6. Shavetail - Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
7. Her Mind Is Gone - Roy Byrd And His Blues Jumpers
8. Bald Head - Roy Byrd And His Blues Jumpers
9. Hey Now, Baby - Roy Byrd And His Blues Jumpers
10. Oh, Well - Roy Byrd And His Blues Jumpers
11. Byrd's Blues - Roy Byrd And His Blues Jumpers
12. Hadacol Bounce - Roy Byrd And His Blues Jumpers
13. Longhair Stomp - Roy Byrd And His Blues Jumpers
14. Been Foolin' Around - Roy Byrd And His Blues Jumpers
15. Between The Night And Day - Roy Byrd And His Blues Jumpers
16. If It's Good - Julia Lee With Tommy Douglas's Orchestra
17. Show Me Missouri Blues - Julia Lee With Tommy Douglas's Orchestra
18. Lotus Blossom - Julia Lee With Tommy Douglas's Orchestra
19. Dream Lucky Blues - Julia Lee With Tommy Douglas's Orchestra
20. Take It Easy, Greasy - Myra Taylor With Jimmy Keith's Orchestra
21. Tell Your Best Friend Nothin' - Myra Taylor With Jimmy Keith's Orchestra
22. The Spider And The Fly - Myra Taylor With Jimmy Keith's Orchestra
23. Still Blue Water - Myra Taylor With Jimmy Keith's Orchestra

Disc 6
1. Boy Meets Horn - Rex Stewart And His Sextet
2. Jug Blues - Rex Stewart And His Sextet
3. B. O. Blues - Rex Stewart And His Sextet
4. That's Rhythm - Rex Stewart And His Sextet
5. Dateless Brown - Buddy Rich And His Orchestra
6. You Got Me Cryin' Again - Buddy Rich And His Orchestra
7. Desperate Desmond - Buddy Rich And His Orchestra
8. It Couldn't Be True - Buddy Rich And His Orchestra
9. Quiet Riot - Buddy Rich And His Orchestra
10. Baby, Baby All The Time - Buddy Rich And His Orchestra
11. Route 66 - Buddy Rich And His Orchestra
12. The Iggity Song - Buddy Rich And His Orchestra
13. It's About Time - Buddy Rich And His Orchestra
14. Ready To Go Steady - Buddy Rich And His Orchestra
15. Rich-Ual Dance - Buddy Rich And His Orchestra
16. Oop-Bop-Sha-Bam - Buddy Rich And His Orchestra
17. You Talk A Little Trash - Cootie Williams And His Orchestra
18. Typhoon - Cootie Williams And His Orchestra
19. I Love You, Yes I Do - Cootie Williams And His Orchestra
20. Smooth Sailing - Cootie Williams And His Orchestra
21. 'Gator Tail, Part 1 - Cootie Williams And His Orchestra
22. 'Gator Tail, Part 2 - Cootie Williams And His Orchestra
23. Let 'Em Roll - Cootie Williams And His Orchestra
24. Slidin' And Glidin' - Cootie Williams And His Orchestra
25. Mercenary Papa - Cootie Williams And His Orchestra
26. You Got To Pay Those Dues - Cootie Williams And His Orchestra

Disc 7
1. Oh, Lady, Be Good! - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
2. Oh, Lady, Be Good! - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
3. Oh, Lady, Be Good! - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
4. Kilroy Boogie - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
5. Kilroy Boogie - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
6. Kilroy Boogie - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
7. St. Louis Boogie - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
8. St. Louis Boogie - Albert Ammons And His Rhythm Kings
9. Jet Propelled Papa - Helen Humes With Buck Clayton's Orchestra
10. I Just Refuse To Sing The Blues - Helen Humes With Buck Clayton's Orchestra
11. They Raided The Joint - Helen Humes With Buck Clayton's Orchestra
12. Mad About You - Helen Humes With Buck Clayton's Orchestra
13. Flippity Flop Flop - Helen Humes With Buck Clayton's Orchestra
14. Today I Sing The Blues - Helen Humes With Buck Clayton's Orchestra
15. Bucktown Boogie - Jay McShann And His Sextet
16. Voodoo Woman Blues - Jay McShann And His Sextet
17. Br'er Rabbit - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
18. Boogie Woogie Holliday - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
19. Too Many Women Blues - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
20. I Like To Be Home Blues - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
21. Three O'Clock In The Morning - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
22. Gonna Send You Back Where I Got You From - Eddie 'Mr. Cleanhead' Vinson and His Orchestra
23. Typhoon - Cootie Williams And His Orchestra
24. Mercenary Papa - Cootie Williams And His Orchestra
25. Doin' The Gator Tail - Cootie Williams And His Orchestra
26. Just An Idea - Mary Lou Williams
27. Just You, Just Me - Mary Lou Williams

Lester Young Live (14-16/16) - 1956-1959 (For Europeans Only #10)

So then, here's the missing parts of the Lester Young live recordings (minus some omissions that I'll put up later).

Lester Young – Live and private recordings in chronological order

Disc 14 /1956

August 8, 1956
Lester Young Quintet
Birdland, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Lester Young ts; unknown p, b, d
1. Lullaby of Birdland (Theme) (George Shearing) / Lester Leaps In (Young) 7:21
2. Polka Dots And Moonbeams (Burke-Van Heusen) 4:18
3. Up ‘N Adam (Young) 5:57
4. In A Little Spanish Town (Lewis-Wayne-Young) / Lullaby of Birdland (Theme) 3:11
Date given on photocopies of discography of 16CD set is late summer 1956 – exact date handwritten into photocopies.

August 15, 1956
Lester Young Quintet
Birdland, New York City, ABC Broadcast
Jesse Drakes t; Lester Young ts; Bill Triglia p; Gene Ramey b; Gus Johnson d
5. Lullaby of Birdland (Theme) (George Shearing) / Three Little Words (Kalmar-Ruby) 8:21
6. These Foolish Things (Morrell-Strachey-Link) 4:36
7. Blues in G (Lester’s Mop Mop Blues) (Young) 6:00
Same, omit Drakes
8. Tea For Two (Youmans-Caesar) 2:25
Porter does not list Tea for Two. He lists In A Little Spanish Town on August 15, and gives August 7 instead of August 8 for #1-4.

October 1956
Lester Young Quartet
Unknown club, Frankfurt, Germany
Lester Young ts; “Horst Ornimert” p; Al King b; Lex Humphries d
9. Lester Leaps In (Young) 9:48
10. These Foolish Things (Morrell-Strachey-Link) 3:27
11. Blues (Lester’s European Blues) (Young) 9:08
This date continues on disc 15.
These tracks were probably recorded in November 9, 1956, with Lasse Werner on piano.


Disc 15 /1956

October 1956
Lester Young Quartet
Unknown club, Frankfurt, Germany
Lester Young ts; “Horst Ornimert” p; Al King b; Lex Humphries d
1. Lullaby of Birdland (George Shearing) 2:56
2. There’ll Never Be Another You (Warren-Gordon) 7:38
This date begins on disc 14.
These tracks were probably recorded in November 9, 1956, with Lasse Werner on piano.

November 12, 1956
Birdland All-Stars
Freiburg, Germany
Lester Young ts; René Urtreger p; Pierre Michelot b; Christian Garros d
3. Indiana (Hanley-MacDonald) 2:33
Same date: Miles Davis t; Lester Young ts; Milt Jackson vib; John Lewis p; Percy Heath b;
Connie Kay d
4. How High The Moon (Morgan Lewis) 8:11
Same date, Lester Young ts; Kurt Edelhagen big band, unknown personnel
5. Lester Leaps In (Young) 9:10

January 2, 1957 or November 1956
Lester Young Quartet
Unknown European city
Lester Young ts; unknown p, b, d
6. Polka Dots And Moonbeams (Burke-Van Heusen) 2:29
7. Lester Leaps In (Young) 1:53
These tracks may be identical with the respective titles on “Pres in Europe” (Highnote). Personnel would then be: Young ts; René Urtreger p; Pierre Michelot b; Christian Garros d

December 8, 1956 (afternoon)
Lester Young with Earl Swope & Bill Potts
Olivia’s Patio Lounge, Washington DC
Earl Swope tb; Lester Young ts; Bill Potts p; Norman Williams b; Jim Lucht d
8. Oh, Lady, Be Good (G. & I. Gershwin) 7:15
9. Blues In G (Up ‘N Adam) (Young) 7:53
10. Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid (Young) 7:34
11. Lullaby of Birdland (George Shearing) 1:36


Disc 16 /1956-1959

December 8, 1956 (night)
Lester Young with the Bill Potts Trio
Olivia’s Patio Lounge, Washington CD
Lester Young ts; Bill Potts p; Norman Williams b; Jim Lucht d
1. Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid (Young) 3:32
2. These Foolish Things (Morrell-Strachey-Link) 3:37
3. Three Little Words (Kalmar-Ruby) 4:20

December 15, 1956
Lester Young
Café Bohemia, New York City
Idrees Sulieman t; Lester Young ts; Sinclair Raney p; Gene Ramey b; Willie Jones d
4. Lester Leaps In (Young) 3:13
5. These Foolish Things (Morrell-Strachey-Link) 3:38
6. Three Little Words (Kalmar-Ruby) 4:41

December 22, 1956
Lester Young Quartet
Café Bohémia, New York City
Lester Young ts; Sinclair Raney p; Gene Ramey b; Willie Jones d
7. Pennies From Heaven (Johnston-Burke) 3:02
8. Polka Dots And Moonbeams (Burke-Van Heusen) 3:44
same, add Idrees Sulieman t
9. Indiana (Hanley-MacDonald) 4:01

December 8, 1957
The Sound of Jazz All-Stars
CBS TV Studio, New York City
Roy Eldridge & Doc Cheatham t; Vic Dickenson tb; Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins & Ben Webster ts; Gerry Mulligan bari;
Mal Waldron p; Danny Barker g; Milt Hinton b; Osie Johnson d; Billie Holiday voc
10. Fine And Mellow (Billie Holiday) 8:05

July 5, 1958
The Newport All-Stars
Newport, Rhode Island
Buck Clayton t; Jack Teagarden tb; Pee Wee Russell cl; Lester Young ts; Don Ewell p; Tom Bryant b; Jo Jones d
11. I Cover The Waterfront (Green-Heyman) 3:38
12. Jump the Blues (Royal Garden Blues) (W.C. Handy) 7:07

September 25, 1958
Coleman Hawkins and Friends
WNTA-TV Studio, New York City, Art Ford’s Jazz Party (TV Show)
Henry “Red” Allen & Charlie Shavers t; J.C. Higginbotham tb; Pee Wee Russell cl; Coleman Hawkins & Lester Young ts;
Willie “The Lion” Smith p; Harry Shepherd vib; Dick Thompson g; Vinnie Burke b; Sonny Greer d
13. Mean To Me (Turk Ahlert) 3:25
14. Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid (Young) 8:36

March 1959 (March 11, 1959?)
Lester Young
Blue Note, Paris, France
Lester Young ts; H. Kaufmann (?) p; Jimmy Gourley g; Jean-Marie Ingrand b; Kenny Clarke d
15. I Cover The Waterfront (Green-Heyman) 0:59
16. There’ll Never Be Another You (Warren-Gordon) 5:02

Lester Young Live (11-13/16) - 1952-1956 with Horace Silver, Hank Jones, Ella Fitzgerald and many others (For Europeans Only #9)

I apologize for the absence of further Prez posts... all the music has been uploaded for a while, but I've been thinking with what to continue after it was done and had no great ideas (now I have). Also as so often "real life" interfered with stuff demading lots of attention and time, and then last weekend some kind of stomach flu hit me... now it has gone on to just your normal olde flu, so things are getting better (he he he... check out the terrific Riverside album Cannonball Adderley and Milt Jackson made under that title, btw!).

So now then, in two more posts I'll share the rest of the Prez live material, this time it's discs 11-13, discs 14-16 will follow soon, and then I'll have a little special treat for x-mas, for fans of more modern sounds (dare I say free jazz?).


Lester Young – Live and private recordings in chronological order

Disc 11 /1952-1953

August 2, 1952
Lester Young Quintet
Birdland, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Lester Young ts; Gil Coggins p; unknown b, d
1. Up ‘N Adam (Young) 5:20
2. Ghost Of A Chance (Young-Washington-Crosby) 3:23
3. In A Little Spanish Town (Lewis-Wayne-Young) 7:25
4. Too Marvellous For Words (Whiting-Mercer) 6:11
5. Neenah (Young) 3:45

January 3, 1953
Lester Young Quintet
Birdland, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Lester Young ts; Earl Knight p; Aaron Bell b; Lee Abrams d
6. Up ‘N Adam (Young) 5:07
7. Blue And Sentimental (Basie-David-Livingston) 5:59
8. After You’ve Gone (Creamer-Layton) 6:30
9. In A Little Spanish Town (Lewis-Wayne-Young) 6:09
10. Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid (Theme) (Young) 1:21


Disc 12 /1953

January 10, 1953
Lester Young Quintet
Birdland, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Lester Young ts; Earl Knight p; Aaron Bell b; Lee Abrams d
1. Lullaby Of Birdland (Theme) (George Shearing) / Indiana (Hanley-MacDonald) 6:31
2. Almost Like Being In Love (Lerner-Loewe) 5:15
3. Neenah (Young) 5:09
4. D. B. Blues (Young) 3:44

January 15, 1953
Lester Young Quintet
Birdland, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Lester Young ts; Horace Silver p; Franklin Skeete b; Lee Abrams d
5. Lullaby Of Birdland (Theme) (George Shearing) / Up ‘N Adam (Young) 5:36
6. Too Marvellous For Words (Whiting-Mercer) 5:48

January 17, 1953
Lester Young Quintet
Birdland, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Lester Young ts; Earl Knight p; Aaron Bell b; Lee Abrams d
7. Oh, Lady, Be Good (G. & I. Gershwin) 7:55
8. A Foggy Day (G. & I. Gershwin) 8:15
9. In A Little Spanish Town (Lewis-Wayne-Young) 7:46
10. Lester Leaps In (Young) 6:10


Disc 13 /1953-1956

March 3, 1953
Jazz At The Philharmonic
Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
Lester Young ts; Hank Jones p; Ray Brown b; J.C. Heard d
1. Flashes of Pres (Medley) 7:14
These Foolish Things (Morrell-Strachey-Link)
I Cover The Waterfront (Green-Heyman)
Lester Leaps In (Young)
Blues In C (Young)

July 4, 1953
Lester Young Band
Birdland, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Lester Young ts; Earl Knight or Horace Silver p; Gene Ramey b; Connie Kay d
2. Up ‘N Adam (Young) 6:25
3. I Can’t Get Started (Duke-Gershwin) 7:02
4. Lester Leaps In (Young) 6:00

July 11, 1953
Lester Young Band
Birdland, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Lester Young ts; Earl Knight or Horace Silver p; Gene Ramey b; Connie Kay d
5. Lullaby of Birdland (Theme) (George Shearing) / Indiana (Hanley-MacDonald) 6:18
6. In A Little Spanish Town (Lewis-Wayne-Young) 7:42
7. D Flat Blues With A Bridge (Young) 6:40

March 3, 1953 (?)
Jazz At The Philharmonic
Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
Lester Young ts, Ella Fitzgerald voc; others unknown
8. Lester Leaps In (Young) 3:01
Unknown date and place 1952/1953, possibly from the March 3, 1953 broadcast.

February 1956
Lester Young with unknown band
unknown place, tv show
Lester Young ts; others unknown
9. Pennies From Heaven (Johnston-Burke) 2:08
Probably recorded in Paris, October 12, 1956 (handwritten on photocopy of 16CD set discography)

Lester Young Live (10/16) - Spring 1952 Sessions (For Europeans Only #8)

Not much I can say... it's Pres, it's getting later in his career, he was different by then, but still good, contrary to those myths surrounding his career... the next volume will have more from this band (but with Knight identified as pianist - I'm not familiar with such early Wynton Kelly to dare a guess... even less so as I don't know Knight at all...). I mentioned already that Aaron Bell had a short spell with Duke Ellington's band in the early 60s, and Lee Abrams, around this time, was on that great 1953 trio session(s) of Al Haig. Not exactly well-known guys, but most definitely thorough pros at their game!

Lester Young – Live and private recordings in chronological order
Disc 10 / 1952

April 25, 1952
Lester Young Quintet
Birdland, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Lester Young ts; Earl Knight or Wynton Kelly p; Aaron Bell b; Lee Abrams d
1. Neenah (Young) 4:17
2. A Ghost Of A Chance (Young-Washington-Crosby) 3:07
3. In A Little Spanish Town (Lewis-Wayne-Young) 7:29
4. Destination Moon (?) 6:36
5. Lester Leaps In (Young) 3:21

May 2, 1952
Lester Young Quintet
Birdland, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Lester Young ts; Earl Knight or Wynton Kelly p; Aaron Bell b; Lee Abrams d
6. Up ‘N Adam (Young) 5:01
7. ‘Deed I Do (Hirsch-Rose) 7:24
8. How High The Moon (Morgan Lewis) 5:21
9. Pennies From Heaven (Johnston-Burke) 2:38

May 3, 1952
Lester Young Quintet
Birdland, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Lester Young ts; Earl Knight or Wynton Kelly p; Aaron Bell b; Lee Abrams d
10. Up ‘N Adam (Young) 5:34
11. ‘Deed I Do (Hirsch-Rose) 6:54

Lester Young Live (9/16) - 1951-1952 with John Lewis, Hank Jones, Jo Jones, Max Roach (For Europeans Only #7)

Here's the last date with John Lewis, a date with Earl Knight, about whom I don't know anything, and a single JATP track with Hank Jones, Ray Brown and the late Max Roach (oh hell, if only Hank Jones will stay on a while!)


Lester Young – Live and private recordings in chronological order
Disc 9 /1951-1952

May 19, 1951
Lester Young Quintet
Birdland, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Lester Young ts; John Lewis p; Gene Ramey; Jo Jones d
1. Indiana (Hanley-MacDonald) 7:23
2. A Ghost Of A Chance (Young-Washington-Crosby) 3:53
3. How High The Moon (Morgan Lewis) 6:28
4. D.B. Blues (Young) 3:13

August 4, 1951
Lester Young Quintet
Birdland, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Lester Young ts; Earl Knight p; Gene Ramey or Aaron Bell b; Jo Jones or Joe Harris d
5. Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid (Theme) (Young) / Up ‘N Adam (Young) 5:12
6. Blue And Sentimental (Basie-David-Livingston) 3:12
7. Neenah (Young) 4:56
8. Lester Leaps In (Young) / Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid (Theme) (Young) 6:09

April 6, 1952
Jazz At The Philharmonic
Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
Lester Young ts; Hank Jones p; Ray Brown b; Max Roach
9. I Cover The Waterfront (Green-Heyman) 4:02

Lester Young Live (7-8/16) - 1950/1951 with Jesse Drakes, Ted Kelly & John Lewis, Gene Ramey, Jo Jones (For Europeans Only #6)

These sessions are fairly well-known, I think. The quartet dates with John Lewis have been released in various forms, for instance on the Italian bootleg label Jazz View.
I assume it's complete here, or at least as complete as it gets!

Fabulous stuff, to be sure!

Leave some comments, post some impressions, please!


Lester Young – Live and private recordings in chronological order


Disc 7 /1950-1951

March 15, 1950
Lester Young Band
Royal Roost, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Ted Kelly tb; Lester Young ts; unknown p; Al McKibbon b; Buddy Rich d
1. I Cover The Waterfront (Green-Heyman) 5:46
2. Be Bop Boogie (Young) 3:14
3. D. B. Blues (Young) 2:21
4. Just You, Just Me (Greer-Klages) 3:05
5. Sunday (Coots-Grey) 4:17

prob. April 2, 1950
Lester Young Quintet
Chicago
Jesse Drakes t; Lester Young ts; unknown p, b, d
6. Tea For Two (Youmans-Caesar) 4:32
7. Blues in D-Flat (aka D.B. Blues) (Young) 6:25
8. Blue And Sentimental (Basie-David-Livingston) 7:18
9. Lester Leaps In (Young) 5:56

January 6, 1951
Lester Young Quartet
Birdland, New York City
Lester Young ts; John Lewis p; Gene Ramey b; Jo Jones d
10. Up ‘N Adam (Young) 3:47
11. Three Little Words (Kalmar-Ruby) 5:30
12. Neenah (Young) 4:25
13. I Cover The Waterfront (Green-Heyman) 5:27
14. Lester Leaps In (Young) 5:06


Disc 8 /1951

January 13, 1951
Lester Young Quartet
Birdland, New York City
Lester Young ts; John Lewis p; Gene Ramey b; Jo Jones d
1. Up ‘N Adam (Young) 4:01
2. Too Marvellous For Words (Whiting-Mercer) 6:00
3. Indiana (Hanley-MacDonald) 4:33

January 20, 1951
Lester Young Quartet
Birdland, New York City
Lester Young ts; John Lewis p; Gene Ramey b; Jo Jones d
4. Neenah (Young) 3:38
5. A Ghost Of A Chance (Young-Washington-Crosby) 3:43
6. Lester Leaps In (Young) 5:00
7. Up ‘N Adam (Young) 4:37

February 24, 1951
Lester Young Quartet
Birdland, New York City
Lester Young ts; John Lewis p; Gene Ramey b; Jo Jones d
8. Up ‘N Adam (Young) 3:45
9. These Foolish Things (Morrell-Strachey-Link) 3:25
10. Neenah (Young) 3:45
11. Lester Leaps In (Young) 4:24
12. Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid (Young) 1:04

March 17, 1951
Lester Young Quartet
Birdland, New York City
Lester Young ts; John Lewis p; Gene Ramey b; Jo Jones d
13. Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid (Theme) (Young) / Up ‘N Adam (Young) 4:22
14. Too Marvellous For Words (Whiting-Mercer) 4:52
15. Neenah (Young) 4:27
16. Ghost Of A Chance (Young-Washington-Crosby) 3:58
17. Lester Leaps In (Young) 5:01

Lester Young Live (4-6/16) - 1950 monster gig with Kenny Drew & Jo Jones (For Europeans Only #5)

Here's the weekend's instalment, a 3-in-1 package, featuring a whole lot of music - and there seems to be even more from these gigs, or that gig, if it was indeed just one, which I doubt if I see the amound of music recorded... Pres is backed here by Kenny Drew and Jo Jones, the bassist's identity isn't clear (Leroy Jackson or Aaron Bell, the later of whom I know from Ellington, well at least from the "Duke Ellington Meets John Coltrane" album on Impulse), and Jesse Drakes is on trumpet - he'll be part of Pres' band on future uploads here, too. Not a great player, really, but good enough, for sure...


Lester Young – Live and private recordings in chronological order (Discs 4-6)

February 22, 1950
Lester Young Quintet
Savoy Ballroom, New York City

Jesse Drakes t; Lester Young ts; Kenny Drew p; Leroy Jackson or Aaron Bell b; Jo Jones d


Disc 4 /1950

1. Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid (Theme) (Young) 0:53
2. Neenah (Young) 3:53
3. I Cover The Waterfront (Green-Heyman) 7:20
4. These Foolish Things (Morrell-Strachey-Link) 4:09
5. Lester Leaps In (Young) 3:11
6. Sunday (Coots-Grey) 7:51
7. Destination Moon (?) 8:48
8. Mean To Me (Turk Ahlert) 4:36
9. Pennies From Heaven (Johnston-Burke) 6:52
10. Stardust (H. Carmichael) 7:39
11. Three Little Words (Kalmar-Ruby) 6:46


Disc 5 /1950

1. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (Fields-McHugh) 6:03
2. Oh, Lady, Be Good (G. & I. Gershwin) 6:32
3. ‘Deed I Do (Hirsch-Rose) 6:31
4. Almost Like Being In Love (Lerner-Loewe) 5:02
5. I Cover The Waterfront (Green-Heyman) 5:03
6. I Got Rhythm (Gerswhin) 12:58
7. Up ‘N Adam (Young) 5:30
8. Perdido (Juan Tizol) 10:56
9. One O’Clock Jump (Count Basie) 5:57


Disc 6 /1950

1. D. B. Blues (Young) 10:49
2. ‘Deed I Do (Hirsch-Rose) 8:54
3. Untitled Blues (Young) 2:22
4. Lester Leaps In (Young) 6:10
5. Blues with Bridge (Young) 6:49
6. Seventh Avenue Romp (?) 6:59
7. In A Little Spanish Town (Lewis-Wayne-Young) 10:39
8. Oh, Lady, Be Good (G. & I. Gershwin) 8:30


The above date is spoken on one of the source recordings, but it appears that these titles derive from more than one night.
More tunes are known to be recorded at these date(s) than on discs 4-6

Lester Young Live (3/16) - more 1948 Royal Roost airchecks with Roy Haynes & Junior Mance (For Europeans Only #4)

Here's the third instalment, more from the 1948 band at the Royal Roost. This may not look like a great band, with both Jesse Drakes and Ted Kelly not exactly well-known, but in the rhythm section there's one of the young musicians who's star was to rise bigtime soon after these dates: Roy Haynes! And on all but the first dates, there's Junior Mance on piano.

I'd welcome a bit of discussion and some reactions here, folks! I see there are quite a few downloads of this material, please step out of anonymity for a second and leave a comment if you feel like!



The weekend's instalment will consist of three discs, 4-6, all taken from the same session(s)!


Lester Young – Live and private recordings in chronological order
Disc 3 /1948-1949

December 4, 1948
Lester Young Band
Royal Roost, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Ted Kelly tb; Lester Young ts; Freddie Jefferson p; Ted Briscoe b; Roy Haynes d
1. Be Bop Boogie (Young) 4:09
2. I’m Confessin’ (Neiburg-Daugherty-Reynolds) 3:21
3. I Cover The Waterfront (Green-Heyman) 5:46
4. How High The Moon (Morgan Lewis) 4:37
5. Sunday (Coots-Grey) 4:15
6. Jumping With Symphony Sid (Theme) (Young) 0:55

March 19, 1949
Lester Young Band
Royal Roost, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Jerry Elliott tb; Lester Young ts; Junior Mance p; Ted Briscoe b; Roy Haynes d
7. Bebop Boogie (Young) 3:16
8. These Foolish Things (Morrell-Strachey-Link) 3:30
9. D. B. Blues (Young) 2:26
10. Just You, Just Me (Greer-Klages) 3:07

March 26, 1949
Lester Young Band
Royal Roost, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Jerry Elliott tb; Lester Young ts; Junior Mance p; Ted Briscoe b; Roy Haynes d
11. Lester Leaps In (Young) 2:23
12. She’s Funny That Way (Moret-Whiting) 3:40
13. Lavender Blue (Daniel-Morey) 4:10
14. Tea For Two (Youmans-Caesar) 3:00

April 9, 1949
Lester Young Band
Royal Roost, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Jerry Elliott tb; Lester Young ts; Junior Mance p; Ted Briscoe b; Roy Haynes d
15. Lavender Blue (Daniel-Morey) 5:07
16. A Ghost Of A Chance (Young-Washington-Crosby) 3:29
17. Mean To Me (Turk Ahlert) 3:21
18. Sunday (Coots-Grey) 3:06

MC on all tracks: Symphony Sid

Lester Young Live (2/16) - with Buck Clayton, Coleman Hawkins, Illinois Jacquet & others (For Europeans Only #3)

So Volume 1 was mostly the well-known (I assume) soundtrack of Gjon Mili's film "Jammin' the Blues" and some added rarities by the Lee & Lester Young band, as well as the two absolutely stunning tracks by the piano-less quintet of Pres, Shad Collins, John Collins, Nick Fenton and Doc West.
Here, for starters you'll get a terrific Jubilee All Stars date with Buck Clayton, Coleman Hawkins and others. On we go with some JATP again with Clayton, Hawkins, and also Illinois Jacquet. Then, to end this volume, we get the first recordings of Pres' regular working unit from 1948, live from the Royal Roost.


From "The Sound of Jazz" (l. to r.): Billie Holiday, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Gerry Mulligan

A note on Pres and JATP: I don't think that all of the JATP material with Pres that was eventually collected in the great 10CD 1944-1949 JATP box on Verve was included in this 16CD set - the JATP discography is a mess, if you compare the info from the Verve box, which I assume is as well-researched as can be, with the crappy info on jazzdisco.org (see links on the right), you'll see what chaos there is... I have not done any comparison myself, but maybe once these 16 volumes are up, I might check and add additional material later.


Lester Young – Live and private recordings in chronological order
Disc 2 /1946-1948


Ca. April 22, 1946
Jubilee All Stars
AFRS Jubilee #190/192, Hollywood, CA
Buck Clayton t; Coleman Hawkins & Lester Young ts; Kenny Kersey p; Irving Ashby g; Billy Hadnott b; Shadow Wilson d
1. Sweet Georgia Brown (Pinkard-Bernie-Casey) 8:20
2. Oh, Lady Be Good (G. & I. Gershwin) 4:06
3. I Got Rhythm (Gershwin) 8:33

May 27, 1946
Jazz At The Philharmonic
Carnegie Hall, New York City
Buck Clayton t; Coleman Hawkins, Illinois Jacquet & Lester Young ts; Kenny Kersey p; Curley Russell b; J. C. Heard d
4. Oh, Lady Be Good (G. & I. Gershwin) 10:45
5. Sweet Georgia Brown (Bernie-Pinkard-Casey) 7:36
These two titles were eventually released on the Verve 10CD JATP box

November 27, 1948
Lester Young Band
Royal Roost, New York City
Jesse Drakes t; Ted Kelly tb; Lester Young ts; Freddie Jefferson p; Ted Briscoe b; Roy Haynes d
6. Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid (Young) 0:44
7. Lester Leaps In (Young) 3:05
8. A Ghost Of A Chance (Young-Washington-Crosby) 4:36
9. Just You, Just Me (Greer-Klages) 5:09
10. Sweet Georgia Brown (Bernie-Pinkard-Casey) 5:09
same date, add Kai Winding tb; Allen Eager ts; Hank Jones p; Ray Brown b; Ella Fitzgerald voc; probably omit Jefferson and Briscoe, maybe Kelly
11. How High The Moon (Morgan Lewis) / Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid (Young) 7:17
MC: Symphony Sid

Lester Young Live (1/16) - Some Lester a day keeps the doctor away - For Europeans Only #2

Here's the first in a long-ish series of Lester Young uploads. I might some day put some of it up on dime in lossless, too. But as some of this material has seen commercial release, even if only on Chronogical Classics, Masters of Jazz or similar series, it will be rather complicated to figure out what exactly would be allowed there, and what not. So for a beginning, here's VBR MP3s of about as much live Prez you can hope for...

This is a continuation of my little "for Europeans only" series - this material is all out of copy right in Europe, so it's perfectly legal for anyone to share it, even sell it (as those shady labels like Lonehill, Definitive, Gambit etc. do). If you have any doubts or moral constraints, just stay away, please!

This Lester Young Series will consist of 16 CDs, taken from a Japanese Set (also available in LP form, long OOP of course). I will possibly add some bonus items later, too. And it might take me a whole while to put all of this up, so I suggest you subscribe to the RSS-feed not to lose touch if I end up in limbo for a while again... (though limbus, coolest place between heaven and hell, has now officially been abolished... it wasn't fair anyway to let the early-borns and non-christened children stay in a... well, subsidiary of hell... anyway, now there's a room for rent in hell, a chance not to miss! And play "Limbo Jazz" from the Impulse album Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins for some cool sounds! And add "The Ricitic" and you'll sure be in heaven!)



The first and so far only instalment of my little "For Europeans only" series was dedicated to the great Lee Wiley, the files have been deleted by now (Rapidshare has changed its policy anway, much less will stay online, and I'm not buying an account, so act quick if you want this!). If there's demand, I can also upload my Wiley compilation again, find all info in this older post.

Lester Young – Live and private recordings in chronological order
Disc 1 /1941-1946

July 6, 1938
Jam Session
WNEW Studios, New York City
Benny Goodman cl; Lester Young ts; Teddy Wilson p; others unknown (?)
1. unidentified (?) 3:31

Between February 27 and March 17, 1941 (February 15, 1941?)
Lester Young & his Band
Manhattan Center, New York City
Shad Collins t; Lester Young ts; John Collins g; Nick Fenton b; Doc West d
2. Tickle Toe (Young) 5:25
3. Taxi War Dance (Basie-Young) 5:19

December 2, 1941
Lester & Lee Young’s Band
Club Capri, Hollywood
Paul Campbel t; Lester Young & Bumps Myers ts; Jimmy Rowles p; Red Callender b; Lee Young d
4. Untitled Original (Young) / Blues (Theme) 3:36

1941/1942
Unknown Band
Trouville Club, Los Angeles (Porter: prob. Club in Hollywood)
Lester Young ts, prob. voc; others unknown
5. Just A Little Bit South of North Carolina (Skylar-Cannon-Shaftel) 3:04

August, 1944
Jammin’ the Blues
Hollywood/Los Angeles, CA
Harry Edison t; Lester Young ts; Marlowe Morris p; Barney Kessel g; Red Callender b; Sid Catlett d
6. The Midnight Symphony (Young) 3:02 Morris, Young, Edison, Young
Young ts; Morris p; Kessel g; Callender b; Catlett d; Marie Bryant voc
7. On The Sunny Side of The Street 3:14 Bryant, Young, Bryant (with Young)
(Fields-McHugh)
Edison t; Dickie Wells tb; Young ts & Illinois Jacquet ts; Morris p; Kessel g; Callender b; Catlett d
8. Sweet Georgia Brown (Bernie-Pinkard-Casey) 5:18 Morris, Young, Edison, Kessel, Catlett, Young
Edison t; Wells tb; Young ts; Morris p; Kessel g; Callender b; Catlett d; Bryant voc
9. If I Could Be With You (Johnson-Creamer) 2:12 Young, Wells, Bryant, Edison, Young
Edison t; Wells tb; Young & Jacquet ts; Morris p; Kessel g; Callender b; Catlett d
10. Blues For Marvin (Young) 4:49 Young, Wells, Edison, Kessel, Jacquet, Young
Edison t; Young & Jacquet ts; Morris p; Kessel g; John Simmons b; Jo Jones d
11. Jammin’ The Blues (Young) 4:12 Young, Kessel, Edison, Morris, Simmons, Jacquet
12. Jammin’ The Blues 4:56 same solo order
The identity of the drummers on these tracks is not confirmed (see notes of Lester Young MoJ Vol. 6)

Prob. early April 1946
Lester Young with King Cole Trio & Buddy Rich
AFRS Jubilee #184, Hollywood, CA
Lester Young ts; Nat “King” Cole p; Oscar Moore g; Johnny Miller b; Buddy Rich d
13. These Foolish Things (Morrell-Strachey-Link) 4:35
14. Lester Leaps In (Young) 3:33
The booklet gives ca. March 20, 1946 as recording date for this item.

Prob. early April 1946
Lester Young Quartet
AFRS Jubilee #190, Hollywood, CA
Lester Young ts; Kenny Kersey p; Billy Hadnott b; Shadow Wilson d
15. D. B. Blues (Young) 4:10

Lee Wiley, Bobby Hackett & Joe Bushkin - A Night in Manhattan (1950) - For Europeans Only #1

This is the first of a series of uploads focussing on earlier styles of jazz. The idea is to share single sessions, usually nowhere near the lenght of a CD, that I like a lot and that I think deserve more attention. CDs may have several advantages, but sometimes they're just not right, either... they run too long if I want to have 20 minutes of music, they store away short dates with other material and often sort of hide it... so the focus in this series shall be pre-LP dates, mostly (not much plans yet... I'll be surprised myself!) of pre-bop styled music, such as Lee Wiley, Bunny Berigan or Mildred Bailey (that's the two artists I know what to share of, right away...) 

The tag For Europeans Only (after our favourite Tadd Dameron's composition of the same title) means that this will all be music that's older than 50 years and hence in public domain over here in Europe. If you're an American and disagree with the 50 year limit, please just stay away!


Lee Wiley singing with Max Kaminsky's band

Lee Wiley started out in the early thirties (check out my compilation of early material here) and sang with the Dorsey Brothers, Max Kaminsky, Joe Bushkin and others, mostly working with Condon-related musician by the late 30s. She never quite made it big, maybe because she disappeared or had low visibility at various points of her career. However, this 1950 album matching her with the most sympathetic pianist Joe Bushkin, and trumpeter/cornetist Bobby Hackett, brought her back to attention and has to be considered one of the highlights of her career.

A remembrance by Singer Carol Sloane (from AAJ):

I was singing in the Big Room of an elegant club in New York City called The Blue Angel. One night after the show, I joined some friends in the Art Deco lounge and saw a sight I'll never forget: a woman, draped in sable, seated at one of the black leather upholstered banquettes, surrounded by five or six gentlemen in black tie. The men were clearly enchanted with this glamourous creature, lighting her cigarettes, pouring her champagne, laughing ever so delicately at her witticisms, and not a one paying the slightest attention to darling Bobby Short, singing Cole Porter tunes on a little upright over in the corner with all the persuasion and enthusiasm he possesses to this day. "WHO is that?", I asked. "THAT" is Lee Wiley!"

I was dazzled and thrilled to see the great Lee Wiley, and determined I'd be the center of attention at a similar party one day... Best I've done so far is that night backstage at the Newport Jazz Festival when some guy offered me a joint, a bottle of beer and a ride home.

A short review from AAJ:

Lee Wiley: Night in Manhattan (1950)
This is the quintessential album from the woman widely regarded as the first great cult singer in vocal jazz. Unlike her wonderful and groundbreaking series of songbook 78s of a decade earlier, this 10” EP was carefully recorded to capture Wiley's unique vocal timbre in clear sound. Unlike the sublime, Ralph Burns orchestrated West of the Moon that was still to come, this album features Wiley singing her signature songs in the company of some of her favorite jazz musicians. The latest CD incarnation preserves the original EP's 8-song line up and then adds some Irving Berlin and Vincent Youmans material Wiley recorded for Columbia. These additional tracks feature good songs and terrific singing smothered by awful dual piano accompaniment. However, the first 8 tracks, the original Night in Manhattan EP, are reason enough to buy this CD.

I couldn't find a large scan of the original cover (didn't see it on Gokudo - the two other Columbia 10" albums are there, however), but here's the cover of a CD pairing all three albums:



Just for the record: the two other albums are worthwhile enough, if just for Lee's singing!
But Night in Manhattan is the finest part of the three, for sure! One of her career highlights! And here finally it is:

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Lee Wiley / Bobby Hackett / Joe Bushkin - A Night in Manhattan
Columbia CL 6169 (10" LP)

1. A Woman's Intuition (N. Washington-V. Young) 3:28
2. Sugar (Pinkard-Mitchell-Alexander) 3:05
3. Any Time, Any Day, Anywhere (Washington-Young-Wiley) 2:24
4. (I Don't Stand) A Ghost Of A Chance (Crosby-Washington-Young) 3:13
5. Oh! Look At Me Now (J. DeVries-J. Bushkin) 3:05
6. Street Of Dreams (S. Lewis-V. Young) 3:11
7. Manhattan (R. Rodgers-L. Hart) 3:21
8. I've Got A Crush On You (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin) 3:22


DISCOGRAPHY:

LEE WILEY AND BOBBY HACKETT WITH JOE BUSHKIN AND HIS SWINGING STRINGS: Bobby Hackett (cor), Artie Manners, Jimmy Lytell (cl), Herb Baumel, Alex Pearce, Gabriel Banat (vln), Dick Dickler (vla), George Koutzem (clo), Joe Bushkin (p, cel), Robert Chauvigny (second p), Marcel Bonniface (acc), Bill Goodall (b), Charlie Smith (d), Lee Wiley (vcl).
NYC, December 12, 1950

CO 44721-1 A Woman's Intuition Col 39204, CL 6169
CO 44722-1 Sugar Col 39201, -
CO 44723-1 Any Time, Any Day, Anywhere Col 39204, -
CO 44724-1 (I Don't Stand) A Ghost Of A Chance Col 39202, -

LEE WILEY AND BOBBY HACKETT WITH JOE BUSHKIN AND HIS SWINGING STRINGS: Bobby Hackett (cor), Herb Baumel, Gabriel Banat (vln), Dick Dickler (vla), George Koutzem (clo), Joe Bushkin (p, cel), Bill Goodall (b), Charlie Smith (d), Lee Wiley (vcl).
NYC, December 14, 1950

CO 44732-1 Oh! Look At Me Now Col 39203, CL 6169
CO 44733-1 Street Of Dreams Col 39201, -
CO 44734-1 Manhattan Col 39202, -
CO 44735-1 I've Got A Crush On You Col 39203, -


MP3 @ 320 kbs from:
MD8-206 Classic Columbia Condon Mob Sessions - CD8 #3-10, Sessions (HH) & (II)

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* for europeans only #1 *
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